Frank parker davis



(No Model.)

F. P. DAVIS. PUZZLE.

No. 541,424. Patehted June 18, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK PARKER DAVIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,424, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed February 9, 1395- Serial No. 537,828. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK PARKER DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Puzzle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of games, toys or puzzles in which, by dexterity, a rolling object is caused to assumea certain position, or to lodge in a cavity or other resting place, and the object of the invention is to provide such a device in which there is a sufficient element of luck and also ample chance for exercise of skill, and wherein an interesting contest can be carried on between two ormore players.

To the above end the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts recited in the appended claims.

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device, and Fig. 2'shows a longitudinal section.

The letter a designates a board of generally circular form, and which may be made of wood turned to the proper shape, or of metal stamped into form, or of any other suitable material, and in any other suitable manner. The board is shown as formed with a handle, a", projecting at one side, and by means of which the device is manipulated. The character of the upper surface of the board is to be particularly noted. It is partially spherical or conical, and may be said to have an annular sloping surface, a This is surmounted by a Hat surface, a and in the sloping surface, one or more cavities, or pockets, b, are formed. A cord, 0, is attached at any suitable place to the board, a, preferably at the middle of its bottom, and a ball, d, is attached to the end of said cord. This ball may be of any suitable material, but is preferably of solid rubber.

The puzzle is to lodge the ball in any one of the pockets, 1), and this requires considerable dexterity, for it is apparent that the ball will be quick to roll off the sloping surface, and also off the flat surface, unless the latter is held horizontal. The manipulation must be carried on solely by means of the handle, a, and it is intended that the object shall be attained by first lodging the ball on thefiat surface, a and then rolling it into one of the pockets. The ball may, by luck, lodge in one of the pockets without first resting on the flat surface.

The device can be used as'a game, and to this end the pockets, 1), are denominated by number according to the degree of skill required to deposit the ball in the several pockets. Thus the pocket most remote from the handle is given the numeral 10 because it is found the most difficult one in which to lodge the ball; whereas the two side pockets are numbered 5, and the remaining pocket is numbered 1, as being the easiest to reach.

It is evident that the sloping surface may be that of the frustum of a cone, or it maybe spherical.

The term pocket in the claims means any formation on the sloping surface of the board which provides a restingplace for the ball. 1

W'hatI claim as my invention is as follows:

1. The combination of a board having a sloping surface with a pocket or pockets, a rolling object, and a flexible connection between the board and the rolling object.

2. The combination of a board having an annular sloping surface with a pocket or pockets and a flattened surface surmounting said annular surface, a roliing object, and a flexible connection between the board and the rolling obj ect.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 9th day of February, 189.5.

FRANK PARKER DAVI$.

Witnesses:

LENDELL A. CONNER, J 1 C. W. SMITH. 

